UNIVERSITY OF RWANDA RESEARCH1. University of Rwanda Creation
The University of Rwanda (UR) is newly created in 2013. Although the University is new, however, UR is formed by the merger of the following seven previous public higher learning institutions:
• National University of Rwanda (NUR) ,
• Institut Supérieur d’Agriculture et d’Elevage (ISAE)
• Kigali Health Institute (KHI),
• Kigali Institute of Science And Technology (KIST),
• Kigali Institute of Education (KIE),
• School of Finance And Banking (SFB),
• Umutara Polytechnic (UP),

Each of the seven previous institutions has contributed to the proud history and legacies of Research at the UR.

The University of Rwanda is comprised of the following six colleges:
a. College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences(CAVM)
b. College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS)
c. College of Business and Economics (CBE)
d. College of Education (CE)
e. College of Medicine and Health Sciences(CMHS)
f. College of Science and Technology (CST)

2. University of Rwanda Vision, Mission and Objectives
• University of Rwanda Vision: An academically excellent research led institution that is locally relevant and internationally recognised
• University of Rwanda Mission: A world class university empowering national economic and social transformation through active participation in the global knowledge economy
• University of Rwanda Objectives: A research led university with national, regional and global impact

3. Organisation and Governance of University of Rwanda Research
The Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs and Research is the overall responsible for Research and Postgraduate Studies. The University of Rwanda has a coordination unit at central operational level known as the Research and Postgraduate Studies (UR-RPGS) Unit headed by the University Director of Research and Postgraduate Studies. Each College has a Directorate of Research and Postgraduate Studies headed by a College Director of Research and Postgraduate Studies. Other staff members of the UR-RPGS Unit are: one Research Expert, one Innovation and Technology Transfer Expert, one Publication officer, and one Administrative Assistant.

4. Functions of UR-RPGS Unita. Secretariat of theUR-RPGS Committee of SENATE and its sub-committees (here put hyperlink of “TOR University of Rwanda Research and Postgraduate Studies Committee-UR” and “TOR UR Research Screening & Ethics Clearance Committee”).b. Postgraduate and PhD Education (here put hyperlink of “Summary of procedures for PhD Education matters”): Responsible for
i. Formulation of Policies, Strategies, Frameworks and management tools for provision of quality Postgraduate and Doctoral education (here put hyperlink of all “Forms and Docs relevant for PhD and Masters education”)
ii. Ensuring Postgraduate and Doctoral curricula proposed by Colleges adhere to UR set standardsc. Research, Innovation and Technology Transfer: Responsible for:
i. Formulation of Policies, Strategies, Frameworks and management tools for creating enabling research Environment and inculcating research culture at UR (here put hyperlink of “forms and Docs for affiliation of researchers”, “research&Ethics clearance”, and “publications”)
ii. Ensuring Colleges and individuals maintain quality standards set by UR for Research, Innovation and Technology Transfer (here put hyperlink of “academic workload framework” and “research strategy ... indicators section”).
iii. Managing Grants and other funding Schemes for UR level Research, Innovation and Technology Transfer (here put hyperlink of “grants matters”).
iv. Organising and supporting colleges to organise research dissemination activities of journal and research books publications, organising conferences, exhibitions and communicating research and policy briefs to stakeholders (here put hyperlink of “publications”, and “conferences”, etc).
v. Undertaking central level capacity building activities (both externally or UR internally funded) aimed at improving research environment and inculcating a research culture at UR.
vi. Research Centres: Proposing the establishment of new Research Centres and research Clusters.
vii. Support to external researchers: Affiliating researchers and research students from outside UR and outside Rwanda and facilitating them with applications for research clearance and ethics clearance (put hyperlink of “forms and Docs for affiliation of researchers)d. Representation: Representing UR in all matters related to Research, Scientific Publications, and Postgraduate Studies

5. University Of Rwanda Research And Academic Units
Research at the University of Rwanda is conducted in academic and research entities as . UR consists of 6 colleges which are based on cluster disciplines as follows:

This college is formed by all the agricultural sciences, food science and technology and veterinary medicine units from former NUR, UP, ISAE and KIST. CAVM is based at Busogo Campus, but also with programmes at Huye, Nyagatare, Nyarugenge and Rubirizi Campuses.

CASS is formed by all arts, law, and social science units from former NUR, the former NUR Centre for Conflict Management and the centre for Gender, Culture and Development Studies of former KIE. CASS is based at Huye (Butare) Campus, but also with programmes at Nyarugenge and Musanze Campuses.

This College is formed by all business, management, applied statistics and economics units from former NUR, UP and SFB, and the former NUR centre for Environment, Entrepreneurship and sustainable development. CBE is based at Gikondo Campus, but also with programmes at Huye, Nyagatare and Rusizi Campuses.

This College is composed largely of former KIE and the former NUR and KIST Open and Distance Learning Departments. CE is based at Remera Campus, but also offering affiliated programs by the Rwanda Teachers College at Kavumu and Rukara Campuses.

The College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS) is formed by units of Medicine, Pharmacy, Clinical Psychology and Public Health of former NUR, units of Nursing, Dentistry and Paramedics of former KHI and units of Environmental Health and Epidemiology of former UP. CMHS is based at Nyarugenge campus, but also with programmes taught at Nyamishaba, Kicukiro and Huye campuses, with nursing and midwifery at Nyagatare, Byumba, Kibungo, Rwamagana and Kabgayi Campuses.

The College undertakes Research Activities in collaboration with three Teaching Hospitals:
• Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Butare (CHUB) in English University Teaching Hospital of Butare
• Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Kigali (CHUK) in English University Teaching Hospital of Kigali
• Rwanda Military Hospital

This College is formed by all units of Science, Engineering and Technology from former KIST, former NUR, and former UP. CST is based at Nyarugenge Campus, but also with programmes at Huye and Nyagatare Campuses.

6. University of Rwanda Location
UR is located at 16 campuses which are spread all over the country in all the five Provinces of Rwanda as follows:• Kigali City: Gikondo, Kicukiro, Nyarugenge, Remera and Rubirizi• Eastern Province: Kibungo, Nyagatare (Umutara), Rukara, and Rwamagana• Northern Province: Byumba, Musanze (Ruhengeri),• Southern Province:Huye (Butare), Kabgayi, Kavumu,• Western Province: Nyamishaba, Rusizi

7. University of Rwanda Research History
Although the University of Rwanda was established only recently on 10th September 2013, it is formed by old institutions which have a strong history of Research and Postgraduate Studies. The history of Research and Postgraduate Studies in each of UR colleges dates back to the History of Research and Postgraduate studies of former NUR, the oldest University which has contributed to each of UR Colleges. Below is a chronology of important events relevant to Research and Postgraduate Studies of UR:
Started in 1963 NUR was composed of three academic units: the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Teacher Training College (ENS). At that time, it had 51 students and 16 lecturers. By 2012, the university had nearly 12,000 students and 500 lecturers. Important dates and facts are:
• November 3, 1963: Official opening of NUR
• May 12, 1964: Law establishing the NUR
• 1965 established a Journal called L’Informateur with ISNN: 0019 – 9885
• 1966: The National Institute of Education was created thanks to the UNDP and UNESCO: The Institute aimed at training and improving elementary secondary school teachers’ skills. It also aimed at implementing multidisciplinary pedagogical research.
• 1967: Creation of the University Extension as a unit with the mission to reflect NUR by its services to the people
• 1972: Creation of a research centre on pharmacopoeia and traditional medicine (CUPHARMETRA) in the Faculty of medicine. This became an autonomous body since 1980.
• May 1973: NUR, in conjunction with the Ghent Faculty of Applied Sciences put up a progressive training program for civil engineers specialized in building and set up a fore-project program in electro mechanic engineering.
• October 1973: The University of Instelling Antwerpen contributed in the opening of the Faculty of Law.
• 1974: A centre for study and experimentation of energy in Rwanda was created within the Faculty of Sciences. It became autonomous since 1977.
• January 1977, the Journal L’Informateur was renamed Etudes Rwandaises with ISSN: 1011 ‐4874; it focused on publishing research works conducted in or on Rwanda
• June 13, 1979: The Faculty of Agriculture, which was a department in the Faculty of Science, was created.
• October 1, 1981: NUR and the NIE (National Institute of Education) were merged. Since then, the National University of Rwanda had two campuses: one at Ruhengeri (now Musanze) and another at Butare (now Huye). A few years later, the Faculty of Law shifted to Mburabuturo (Kigali) , Mburabuturo is now known as Gikondo Campus.
• November 1988: Celebration of the 25th anniversary of NUR. Official opening of the Institute of Public Administration (ISAP), born of NUR and Konrad Adanauer Foundation (FKA) cooperation
• Institut Supérieur d’Agriculture et d’Elevage (ISAE) in English Higher Institute of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry , created in 1989 was training experts in agricultural fields
• April-July 1994: The University community lost a good number of its staff and students who were killed during the war and genocide. They were victims of their ideology or ethnic identity. The University suffered a great loss: laboratory equipment, the computer equipment and academic infrastructure were destroyed or taken away. NUR was closed because of the prevailing war in the country, those who were not killed had to hide themselves, and others fled in exile.
• January 1995: The campus of Ruhengeri and the Kigali Faculty of Law shifted and become part of the campus of Butare (now Huye Campus).
• April 1995: Reopening of NUR. The main change was that all the faculties and schools were regrouped in Butare Campus for security reasons first and then for administrative reasons. The beginning was not easy but the government decided upon the smooth running of NUR at all costs. A Campus that was built for 1,600 students now had to lodge more than 4,500. NUR took off slowly but surely despite the wounds of war. English became a new language of teaching and Research in addition to French.
• April 2, 1996: Creation of the School of Information Sciences and Techniques (ESTI)
• Kigali Health Institute (KHI), created in 1996 was training dentists, Nurses and paramedical professions
• Kigali Institute of Science And Technology (KIST), created in 1997 was training scientists, engineers and technologists
• 1998: Creation of a doctorate (PhD) level degree training at the Faculty of Medicine, training jointly with Belgian Universities
• June 15, 1998: Creation of the Research Commission. The research commission coordinated research and publication and their funding
• End of 1998: The merging of the Faculty of Sciences and that of Applied Sciences (Engineering) to form the Faculty of Science and Technology.
• 1999: Creation of the Centre for Conflict Management
• Kigali Institute of Education (KIE), created in 1999 was training teachers for schools and teacher training colleges
• November 27, 1999: The University League against Aids (LUCS) of NUR was created, an action research and dissemination centre
• December 1999: Creation of the University Centre for Arts. Its mission was to dynamise arts and culture, in order to bring its contribution to the strategies of reconciliation, peace and national unity. Moreover, it would promote the international extension of Rwandan culture.
• April 2000: The School of Public Health was created to conduct health research and Postgraduate training
• August 2000: The School of Information Sciences and Techniques (ESTI) became the School of Journalism and Communication. The programme changed to answer more efficiently to the needs of the country.
• School of Finance And Banking (SFB), created in 2002 was training accountants, experts in business administration, accountancy, finance, marketing and management ;
• October 10, 2005: The official re-launching of post-graduate studies in the Faculty of Medicine
• November 18, 2005: “Radio Salus”, the NUR Radio was officially launched
• 2007, NUR Research Commission transformed into a Research Directorate with wider mandate to coordinate research, consultancy and postgraduate Studies, including PhD research degrees. Creation of Directorate of Postgraduate Studies to handle taught masters degrees
• Umutara Polytechnic (UP), created in 2006 was comprehensive covering a wide variety of disciplines in Agricultural fields, Veterinary Medicine, Economics and management, Journalism and Communication, Languages, Health Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Wildlife and Aquatic Resources Management .
• 2007 NUR conferred PhD degrees to its first two students
• 2009 Etudes Rwandaises was renamed Rwanda Journal: ISSN Print: 2305 – 2678, ISSN Online: 2305 – 5944 and changed its language policy to publish in English to increase its readership and visibility.
• In August 2010, Rwanda Journal got indexed with Africa Journals Online and got digital object identifier (DOI) in 2011.
• September 10th, 2013 Creation of the University of Rwanda UR.
• 19th December 2013, the Directorate of Research of the former NUR was transferred to the University of Rwanda central level to Coordinate Research and Postgraduate Studies for the entire UR.